Porcupine Ridge

More info to come.

King Creek Ridge ii

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Crew: Ben, Julia K

Mount Shark X-Country Ski

More info to come.

Smutwood Peak

More info to come.

North Fork - Westy Night

Info to come.

Bryant Creek Shelter iii (Overnight)

More info to come!

Trip #2

Initial trip

Boulton Creek XC Ski

More info to come.

Previous trips in the area
Elk Pass
Elk Lakes Cabin (Overnight)

Mount Tyrwhitt

Hike Name: Mount Tyrwhitt

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 9.5 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,871 m

Elevation Gain: ~680 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Rachel

Time to Summit: ~2.5 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Highwood Pass Parking Lot/Ptarmigan Cirque

Additional Info:

Rachel and I scrambled Mount Tyrwhitt to go look at the keyhole feature. There was a lot of loose rock so helmets are recommended, as well as lots of communication with any groups that are above or below you!

Mount Rae ii

Hike Name: Mount Rae

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~10 km (RT)

Altitude: 3,218 m

Elevation Gain: ~1000 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Stephanie

Time to Summit: ~2.5 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Highwood Pass Parking Lot/Ptarmigan Cirque


Additional Info:
I have been up to the saddle on a previous trip, where we ran into snow and decided to turn around. Steph and I chose Mount Rae after realizing that the weather was absolutely perfect to do a bigger peak. This was an absolutely killer day, we had too much fun! 

Note: Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) is seasonally closed. It closes from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park to the Highwood House Junction from December 1 to June 14 annually.

 Heading up to the rock ribs to get to the saddle. Ptarmigan Cirque is around the corner to the right below.

Just above the saddle. Amazing views already!

 Up on the ridge to the summit

Northover Ridge (Overnight)

Name: Northover Ridge

Activity: Backcountry Camping/Backpacking

Total Distance: 41 km

# Nights: 2

Date: July 21 - July 23, 2018

Area: Kananaskis Lakes

Crew: Ben, Mark, Laura
Trailhead: Interlakes

Route: 
Day 1 - Interlakes to Aster Lake (14km, ~600m) +3km because we missed a turn (so deep in conversation that we went 1.5km without noticing!)
Day 2 - Aster Lake to Three Isle Lake via Northover Ridge (13km, ~950 total)
Day 3 - Three Isle Lake to Interlakes (11km, all downhill, baby)


Northover Ridge has been on the top of our list for a looooong time. We have been talking about it for a few years, and booked it for September 2017 but had to cancel due to a snowstorm and hiked into Assiniboine instead. We finally got it booked for the summer of 2018 and we crossed our fingers for nice weather.

I'll start talking about booking - book 90 days in advance from the first day of your trip - they are strict. We emailed them at 9am on the 90-day-prior-mark and didn't get one of the 5 tent pads at Aster for the Friday night, so we shifted our trip by 1 day (Saturday to Monday instead) and booked right at midnight to get in. This was actually for the best, since on our hike in, everyone we talked to who had done the ridge said it was insanely windy - including on Saturday (the day we originally planned to do the ridge). Luckily, our ridge day - Sunday - had little to no wind and no rain/snow! We were beyond stoked. Of course.

The first day was pretty funny, as we were all head-down, chatting, following each other and kept missing turns. At one point we walked 1.5km in the wrong direction (at least it was flat!) and had to double back so we tacked 3km onto our day.... nice warmup, right??... right. The trail to hidden lake was a little tough to find (with our heads down & hearts in the middle of the now, as Bennett would say) but once we found it, it was quite obvious and a well-beaten track. I'll point out that the trail in the trees around Hidden Lake is solid too - as older trip reports say it is a bushwhack - it is not anymore.

Aster Lake Campground is a beautiful little spot. We met a guided group who had just summited Joffre that day and also ran into some friends at Aster Lake - which is hilarious, considering it is probably the smallest campground in Kananaskis (with 5 tent pads)! We ate some delicious backcountry tacos for dinner - not even dehydrated - thanks for carrying 2 lbs of raw meat in, Laura! We had also read about a porcupine infestation on previous trip reports and they were the butt of the jokes for the weekend - so we were diligent about hanging our packs and hiding our boots in our vestibules - and were looking forward to laughing at the porcupine shrieks in the middle of the night - but that didn't happen... so update: seems that there are no more porcupine at Aster Lake! Haha.

The next day we hiked Northover Ridge to Three Isle Lake. And what a day it was! The photos will speak for themselves (below), but it was a stellar day with pretty ideal weather. We all agreed that this is the best backcountry trip we have ever done in Alberta/BC. The boys went for a dip in Three Isle lake, we played Shithead (which Mark remained undefeated in?????), then called it a night (at 9:30... bunch'a night owls).

Get ready for a photo overload...!

 Making our way to Aster Lake (Day 1)

 Laura (Day 1)

 U wot m8? (Day 1)

 One of the few scramble sections on the way to Aster (Day 1)

 The entire Aster Lake Campground in 1 pic. Seriously beautiful spot. (Day 1)

 The most scenic outhouse. (Day 1)

 Walking towards Aster Lake. Mount Warrior in the middle background (Day 2)

 Tight on the left path around Aster Lake (Day 2)

 HI MOM (Day 2)

 Joffre, Bennett, Warrior. (Day 2)

 Laura walking towards the pass we have to ascend soon (just right of Center, Day 2)

 ..and the Tarns, which you can random-camp at (they are in BC, Day 2)

 Bennett, Joffre. (Day 2)

 3 studs. (Day 2)

 A group close behind us (Day 2)

 A group not too far ahead of us (Day 2)

 Group pic before dropping down towards Three Isle (Day 2)

 Mark and the huge landscape (Day 2)

 Dropping in towards Three Isle, which can be seen at the end of the valley (Day 2)

 Crew still cruisin' (Day 2)

 Dinner with a view (Day 2)

Heading back to reality! (Day 3)

Mount Buller

Hike Name: Mount Buller

Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~10 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,805 m

Elevation Gain: ~1000 m

Area: Kananaskis (Spray Reservoir)

Crew: Bennett

Time to Summit: ~2 hrs

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Buller Pass Trail Parking


Additional Info:
We hiked up Mount Buller after the snow finally melted enough for us to venture a little deeper into the mountains this year. We didn't encounter any snow, but the wind/clouds made it a little chilly - perhaps I was too ambitious in my short-shorts! We initially planned to do Mount Sparrowhawk, as recently there was a photo posted in a Facebook group of the summit block relatively snow-free, but after a snowfall during the week, we concluded it was probably a no-go now. We settled on Mount Buller as we drove by Sparrowhawk, and I am so happy we did. Getting a view of Sparrowhawk from the summit showed us that we would not have made it to the top that day. We had a lovely day on Buller! There is some route finding & bushwhacking after you leave the Buller Pass Trail and once you hit the saddle, you continue up to the right to reach the summit. There are some slabs to scramble up near the summit which may make some uncomfortable but we found that navigating them was alright.

 Almost at the summit, view looking to the NW up the Spray Reservoir

Bean & Bass!

 Starting to descend

 Bam.

Opal South Peak ii

Trip #2:
Crew: Bennett, Steph, Pouyan
Date: May 6, 2018
Time to Summit: 2:00
Click here for the Opal Ridge South Post

 Ben & PK. Summit on the right

 Still winter back here!

 Nearing the summit

 Steph & I

 PK!!

 chillin.

Group pic!

Mount Baldy iii

Trip #3:
Crew: Bennett, Jon, Sam
Date: April 28, 2018
After attempting an early-season hike up Volcano Peak that was thwarted by deep snow and a lack of desire to struggle through it, we enjoyed a hike up to the bench on Baldy and basked in the sun.
Click here for the Mount Baldy Post

Volcano Peak (Attempt)

Hike Name: Volcano Peak (Attempt)
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: ~13km (RT)

Altitude: ~2,575 m

Elevation Gain: 1,054 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Bennett, Jon, Sam

We expected a decent early-season hike up Volcano but there was a lot of snow still lingering in the mountains. We didn't think it was worth it to fight through all the post-holing. so after an hour and a half of it we turned around and did a quick jaunt up Mount Baldy. We'll be back when there is a bit less snow!

Hero's Knob

Name: Hero's Knob
Activity: Alpine Touring/Backcountry Skiing

Distance: ? km

Altitude: ~2,300 m

Elevation Gain: ~900 m

Area: Kananaskis (Spray Reservoir)

Crew: Bennett, Jordan, Shannon, Mitch, Lora, Garrett

Time to Summit: ?

Trailhead: Pullover on the side of the road just South of the Sawmill parking lot.

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40). At the gate closure, turn right. Take the right turn for the Smith Dorrien (Hwy 742). Eventually the Sawmill parking lot will be on your right; turn around and park a few hundred meters south.

Additional Info:

Had an unreal day skiing a few laps on Hero's Knob. Steph V, Aaron et. al. actually did the same tour as us this day and we met up at the parking lot/summit but toured separately. The snow was amazing and the weather was gorgeous- and to top it all off we stopped at the Canmore Brewing Co. for a few beers apres.

Crew debating the route

Cruisin'

 Skinnin'

 Skiin'. Dorkiest skiier on the mountain! (Photo: Shannon)

Way up.